Pacquiao still rules Yahoo Sports Best Pound-for-Pound (November 2008)

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, for the fifth (5th) straight month, still on top and is the clear choice as the world’s finest pound-for-pound boxer in the monthly Yahoo! Sports poll as voted on by a panel of boxing writers.

Pacquiao received 22 first place votes out of 28 from the 28-man panel of voters. Here are the complete results of the voting from Yahoo! Sports:

1. Manny Pacquiao
Points: 282 1/2 (22 of 28 first-place votes)
Record: 47-3-2 (36 KOs)
Title: WBC lightweight champion
Last outing: TKO9 over David Diaz on June 28
Previous ranking: 1
Up next: Dec. 6 in Las Vegas vs. Oscar De La Hoya
Analysis: Trainer Freddie Roach is predicting a ninth-round knockout of De La Hoya.

2. Joe Calzaghe
Points: 230 (5 of 28 first-place votes)
Record: 46-0 (32 KOs)
Title: Ring light heavyweight champion
Last outing: W12 over Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 8
Previous ranking: 2
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Will decide whether to fight again or retire after the holidays.

3. Juan Manuel Marquez
Points: 214 1/2
Record: 49-4-1 (35 KOs)
Title: Ring lightweight champion
Last outing: TKO11 over Joel Casamayor on Sept. 13
Previous ranking: 3
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Talk of a fight with ex-lightweight champion Juan Diaz is mounting.

4. Israel Vazquez
Points: 186
Record: 43-4 (31 KOs)
Title: WBC and Ring super bantamweight champion
Last outing: W12 over No. 7 Rafael Marquez on March 1
Previous ranking: 4
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Eye surgery may put return off for several more months

5. Bernard Hopkins
Points: 155 1/2 (1 of 28 first-place votes)
Record: 49-5 (32 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing: W12 over Kelly Pavlik on Oct. 18
Previous ranking: 5
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: With few lucrative fights, retirement may be his only logical choice.

6. Antonio Margarito
Points: 152
Record: 37-5 (27 KOs)
Title: WBA welterweight champion
Last outing: TKO11 over No. 8 Miguel Cotto on July 26
Previous ranking: 6
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Turned down $2 million offer to fight Shane Mosley on Jan. 24.

7. Rafael Marquez
Points: 93 1/2
Record: 37-5 (33 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing: L12 to No. 4 Israel Vazquez on March 1
Previous ranking: 7
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Still recovering from grueling Vazquez trilogy.

8. Miguel Cotto
Points: 60 1/2
Record: 32-1 (26 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing: TKO by 11 to No. 6 Antonio Margarito on July 26
Previous ranking: 8
Up next: Feb. 21 against opponent to be named.
Analysis: Will likely face either Kermit Cintron, Michael Jennings or Jesus Soto Karass.

9. Paul Williams
Points: 45
Record: 35-1 (26 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing: TKO1 over Andy Kolle on Sept. 25
Previous ranking: NR
Up next: Nov. 29 vs. Verno Phillips in Ontario, Calif.
Analysis: With no quality opponents, recently opted to surrender WBO welterweight title belt.

10. Ivan Calderon
Points: 41
Record: 32-0 (6 KOs)
Title: WBO light flyweight champion
Last outing: TD7 over Hugo Cazares on Aug. 30
Previous ranking: 9
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Immensely gifted boxer has no power.

Others receiving votes: Chad Dawson 27 1/2; Wladimir Klitschko 11; Vic Darchinyan 9 1/2; Mikkel Kessler 8; Kelly Pavlik 6 1/2; Chris John 5; Nonito Donaire 4; Arthur Abraham 2; Ricky Hatton 2; David Haye 2; Juan Manuel Lopez 2.

How about you? Let me know who your choices are?